(As a bakery owner, what I can sell unfortunately often comes down to cost, even if I personally like the item in question. So, if I can’t make money selling something, I won’t sell it. This is a summation of several of the same kind of conversations I have with potential customers on a regular basis when they find out I own a confectionery and bakery.)

Customer: “You should stock [item]! It would sell a lot!”

Me: “Okay, if I did would you and your friends buy it at roughly [price #1]?”

Customer: “Well, my friends wouldn’t, but I would!”

Me: “Okay, how often would you buy it? And how much would you buy?”

Customer: “One, and once a week!”

Me: “Okay, so, you want me to stock an item all the time that only you would be guaranteed to buy, so that you can buy it, but only one, only once a week?”

Customer: “Yeah!”

Me: “Well, okay. How about this; why not just place a standing order for one once a week? It’ll be [price #2].”

Customer: “What?! Are you kidding me?! I can’t afford that! Why did the price go up? [Price #1] is much more than [price #2].”

Me: “Because you said you’re only willing to buy one [item], so I’d have to charge you for the price of only one. If I was able to sell them in volume, and thus make them in batches, I could sell them roughly at [price #1].”

Customer: “But that’s too high. I want [price #1]!”

Me: “Well, I told you I can’t make money selling one, once a week, at [price #1]. So, you want me to lose lots of money so that you can have your treat at the price you want? That doesn’t sound like a very good deal for me.”